We are about saving lives. Melanoma is a fast moving disease that, if left untreated, can kill in a matter of months. MHN is about helping patients find help fast. We have developed unique technology to help patients find trials with our TrialFinder. For advanced stages of melanoma, it is key to find a compatible trial quickly. Your contribution goes directly to the technology of matching patients with trials and with finding cures to the disease. Help us help others. Thank you!

Mike Kremer, son of Luke and Marian Kremer, is a native of Loose Creek who now lives in St. Louis. In the spring of 2009, Mike was diagnosed with melanoma cancer and was admitted to the National Institute of Health in MD for clinical trials. Things were good until May 2010 when a tumor was discovered around a salivary gland in his neck. In Jun 2010 this tumor was removed and radiation treatment began. Then in Dec 2011 another tumor was found in his liver so Mike spent the holidays doing inpatient treatments in MD.

Despite all the extensive treatments, another new tumor was found on Mike’s spleen in Feb 2012. He decided this time to stay in St. Louis for his treatment. All the treatments have taken a toll on him so he had to take a

leave of absence from his job in Apr 2012. In May 2012 melanoma was discovered in his shoulder and found to have grown in his liver and spleen. Today, Mike is 34 and continues his fight with a great amount of faith and hope. This benefit is to help support Mike and his family in that fight. So please join us to help give them that support!

When: Friday, July 13th – 5:30pm to 11:30pm

Where: Loose Creek Community Center

Ticket cost is $30 per person. Ticket purchase includes a buffet meal provided by Steve’s Family Style Restaurant and a D.J. dance provided by Nite Lyfe. Doors open at 5:30. Meal served at 6:30. A live auction will follow the meal followed by the dance. A silent auction and other ‘fun’d raising activities will be available throughout the night as well!

"There is a lot of hope for the future in the field of melanoma treatment. First, most patients are cured. Second, our treatments with more advanced disease are improving, but are still not good enough. Third, there are several more exciting strategies on the horizon -- more specific, less toxic, maybe, more effective. More than anything else, though, we need to empower the patients and families to locate melanoma doctors, treatments, and clincal trials that are right for them, before it is too late. This is our vision for the Melanoma Hope Network.